Joanie Little (played by Rebecca Perry) bursts on to stage with the enthusiasm of a children’s TV presenter, with the jingles to match. The issue is that this show isn’t billed as a kids show. Instead, it’s meant to be an observational comedy about a recent anthropology graduate’s life working as a barista. Which you might think would make me, a history student who has worked as a barista, the target audience.
Not quite. Most of the humour in the show is based on comparing the coffee shop to a jungle and people’s primal behaviour when they haven’t yet had their morning coffee. While some of the jokes ring true (we’ve all had a boss who behaves a bit like a gorilla) others, such as comparing her beautiful, confident coworker to a poodle, fall flat. Little’s character leans more towards pick-me girl complaining than a funny and relatable 21-year-old. And since when were there poodles in the jungle anyway?
The range of characters that are portrayed (more than 20 of them) means we don’t really care about any of them and at most they get a half-hearted chuckle from the audience. In fact, the only person we really get to spend time with, other than Joanie herself, is Jane Goodall, or at least Joanie Little’s imaginary version of her. Joanie speaks to a photo of Jane each night in her apartment, Jane serving as both mentor and symbol for unaccomplished dreams. Yet once again, this bit which should be a charming part of a coming-of-age story feels overexaggerated and sickly sweet.
The one-woman show eventually comes to a satisfying and not completely predictable end. Rebecca Perry’s endearing persona and musical voice carry the play, with several enjoyable tunes dotted throughout the piece. However, the show itself doesn’t hit the right note.
You’re left wondering who this show is for. Certainly not for the twenty-something-year olds whose graduate struggles the show is supposed to reflect – I’ve laughed more during a shift actually working in a coffeeshop.
Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl is running until the 25th of August (not on the 13th and 20th) at The Gilded Balloon Patterhoose.
Tickets available here.
Image provided to The Student by Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Addict.
